Book Club: Giovanna Fletcher - You're The One That I Want.

Blurb

Maddy, dressed in white, stands at the back of the church.  At the end of the aisle is Rob - the man she's about to marry.  Next to Rob is Ben - best man and the best friend any two people ever had.

And that's the problem.

Because if it wasn't Robert waiting for her at the altar, there's a strong chance it would be Ben.  Loyal and sensitive, Ben has always kept his feelings to himself, but if he turned around and told Maddy she was making a mistake, would she listen?  And would he be right?

Best friends since childhood, Maddy, Ben and Rob thought their bond was unbreakable.  But love changes everything.  Maddy has a choice to make but will she choose wisely?  Her heart, and the hearts of the two best men she knows, depend on it...

What I thought

I think I actually loved this more than I loved Dream a little Dream - which is a lot.  See my thoughts on that here.  I devoured this book in one sitting - a grand total of 2 hours, I just couldn't tear myself away.  Like with Dream a little Dream, it's such an usual idea for a story (Mrs Fletcher must have some imagination!) but it just works.  I've never read a book before where I've been willing two different relationships to happen - where both include the same person.  It's very strange but it happened! You're the one that I want had me hooked from the start.  I loved that it told the story from each of the three main characters points of view, that way you got to hear the same story but it was never told the same way twice.  As always the characters were warm & endearing and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Maddy, Ben and Robert.  I really hope that this isn't the last we will hear of them.  Maybe book number 5 is the sequel?  I really hope so!  Have you read You're The One That I Want?  If so please let me know what you thought in the comments or follow me on Instagram @lifeinthegingerlane

Next on my list

Since You've Been Gone by Anouska Knight.

I have previously read & reviewed A Part of Me by Anouska Knight & absolutely loved it so when I found what I believe to be her very first novel I just had to buy it!  Especially when it was the bargain price of 50p!  So this week shall be spent reading Since You've Been Gone & I'll get my thoughts up asap!  

What are you reading this week?

xx

Book Club : Giovanna Fletcher - Billy & Me

Blurb

Sophie May has a secret.

One that she's successfully kept for years. It's meant that she's had to give up her dreams of going to university and travelling the world to stay in her little village, living with her mum and working in the local teashop.

But then she meets the gorgeous Billy - an actor with ambitions to make it to the top. And when they fall in love, Sophie is whisked away from the comfort of her life into Billy's glamorous - but ruthless - world.

Their relationship throws Sophie right into the spotlight after years of shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? And most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be discovered and shared with the nation?

What I thought

In the beginning I wasn't as keen on this book as I had hoped I would be, I think this was largely due to the fact that I was reading it via my iPad & not in book form.  I've found it takes me longer to get into a story when I'm reading it from a screen; anyone else find that?  Don't worry though, by the end of Chapter 2 I was hooked.  You know when you start wondering what the characters are up to when you aren't reading?  That's when you know you like a book.  Having just read that back I do realise how sad it sounds BUT other book lovers will totally understand - I hope.  Giovanna Fletcher is a fantastic author, her characters are warm and sincere - my favourite had to be Molly; the best friend of the lead character Sophie.  I loved that Molly and Sophie weren't your average best friends; one of them being a widowed pensioner and the other a young girl at the beginning of her life.  That is one of the many things that made this book so endearing.  Originally I thought it was just going to be another of those stories.  Girl meets guy, they fall in 'love', guy cheats on girl and breaks her heart within the first few chapters & the rest of the book is spent following her as she rebuilds her life without him (usually ending up with a best friend etc).  You know the books I mean.  Billy & Me is different and so much better for it.  There's a certain depth to it, so many underlying stories which could end up making the whole story extremely confusing and hard to follow but somehow Giovanna Fletcher makes it work.  I have already ordered the sequel to this - Always With Love which has just been released.  I can't wait to find out what happens next for Sophie & Billy.

Next on my list

RSVP by Helen Warner.  

I've had this on my book shelf for a while now so I thought I'd give it a go.  I seem to be flying through books at the moment so any suggestions for others I might like would be greatly appreciated.  Comment below, message me on instagram @lifeinthegingerlane or drop me an email lifeinthegingerlane@gmail.com  

I'd love to hear from you!

xx